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COVID-19 Pandemic Response: The Race to Embrace Remote Online Notarization, RON

Remote online notarization technology, or RON, was on the horizon long before COVID-19 disrupted the way people live and work. The pandemic impacted businesses in unprecedented ways, so maintaining operational capacity is a high priority.

Governments at the state and federal levels are now considering remote notarization to reduce the risk of new COVID-19 infections. New Jersey is moving in this direction faster than New York, but both states plan to adopt the technology rapidly.

Remote Online Notarization, Possible Federal Option

Legislation is being introduced jointly by Republican senator Kevin Kramer from North Dakota and Mark Warner, Democrat from Virginia. The Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act of 2020, or SECURE Act, is Senate Bill 3533. The bipartisan bill establishes baseline or minimal rules that apply to any remote or electronic notarization involving interstate commerce.

The SECURE Act would accomplish the following:

  • All notaries in the U.S. will be authorized to perform remote online notarization utilizing multi-factor authentication.
  • This authorization would expand to all the states. Currently, only 23 states permit remote notarization: Wisconsin, Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota, Nevada, Nebraska, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, Iowa, Indiana, Idaho, Florida and Arizona.

Changes in New York, New Jersey

Before the outbreak of COVID-19, documents in New York and New Jersey could not be notarized online. The pandemic prompted the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, to issue an executive order permitting remote notarization up until April 18, 2020. Each person must submit a legible copy of all signed documents to the notary directly. This can be done by fax or other electronic means. All copies must be legible. It must be done on the same day of the signing.

The following conditions must also be met in order to qualify to use authorized audio-video equipment in lieu of in-person meetings:

  • A valid photo ID must be present during the actual video conference with the notary.
  • Signers are not permitted to provide the photo ID before or after the session.
  • The photo ID is required if the individual is not already known by the notary.
  • To qualify, the video conferencing equipment must enable direct interaction between the notary and the signer.
  • Pre-recorded videos showing the signature happening are not valid.
  • The person signing documents must be located within New York state.

New Jersey, Moving Slower Towards Remote Notarization

Bill A-3864 was initiated on March 19, 2020. The proposal is now in the New Jersey state legislature. After Governor Murphy signs the bill, it will still take 90 days to go into effect. This law excludes wills and cases involving family law such as divorce and adoption.

Notaries received instructions to conduct window-separated signings during the 90-day period. During this time, cell phones, Skype, Zoom, FaceTime and other digital tools are invalid. Notaries must use communication methods that enable both sound and sight through a window. Social distancing, sanitizing and universal health precautions must be applied whenever the Notary handles IDs, documents or personal materials.

Remote online notarization is proposed as a potential national solution because window-separated signings are impractical at this scale. As the spread of COVID-19 increases the sense of urgency, more states seek to expedite approval and implement remote online notarization.

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country.

Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” each and every file 8 or 9 times to ensure the process moves forward free of delays. That’s why we’ve completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.

Ready to experience the BNN Services difference? Get started today!

4 Ways Your Company is Losing Time and Money from Not Doing Business with A National Signing Service

We are officially living in a digital age thanks to COVID -19. The coronavirus has shown us that much of what we do can be done online. In many cases, a digital solution is the most cost-effective and convenient remedy for everyone involved. The digital advantage applies to document notarization as well. Digital signing and remote online notarization offer more flexibility than traditional signings.

Digital transactions can make important and sometimes complicated events like buying or selling a home easier. At the same time, these “virtual” transactions require a greater degree of security than in-person transactions.

If you’re a real estate agent, a loan officer or a title company executive, a national signing service can make your job easier. Here are the top four reasons your business should be outsourcing your signatures:

  1.  An established national signing service will have thousands of vetted and highly rated signing agents. These agents are available and able to virtually accommodate any schedule and all types of signings. National signing services can supplement your in-house team by providing extra help during times of increased transactional volume. They can also be used to replace your in-house team altogether.
  2.  Outsourcing your notary needs to a national signing service can be highly cost-effective. This is especially true if the volume of your transactions varies widely from one month to the next. By outsourcing your signings on an as-needed basis, you’ll save on salaries, employee benefit packages, training and other fixed costs involved in maintaining an in-house team. You’ll avoid paying salaries while your agents are experiencing downtime, and you’ll save on overtime pay when demand goes through the roof.
  3. With coronavirus still in the mix, you need signing agents who are well-versed in the latest state laws and authorizations governing online transactions. Regulations can vary from state to state and even from county to county. National signing agents comply with the latest legal requirements to ensure valid transactions.
  4. Signing Services perform Remote Online Notarizations (RON, webcam notarizations or online notarizations) and hybrid eSignings (electronic signatures, hybrid signings or hybrid closings).

Additionally, they provide flexibility in mobile notarizations where they can accommodate your signer’s location and schedule. Because online signings are secure and convenient, your clients will be happier, too!

Outsourcing to a national signing service can make your job easier and boost your bottom line. BNN Services provides a database of top rated, mobile signing agents that provide world class service as well as creates capacity and provides peace of mind for clients so they can grow their business with confidence!

Our Very Own David Ricci Named to NSBA Leadership Council

Local Business Owner David Ricci Named to NSBA Leadership Council

Irving, Texas– David Ricci of BNN Services, was recently named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. NSBA is the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization and operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis. Ricci, a recognized leader in the small-business community, joins the NSBA Leadership Council alongside other small-business advocates from across the country as they work to promote the interests of small business to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

 

“As a small-business owner, I see daily the importance of being involved and active when it comes to laws and regulation,” stated Ricci. “Joining NSBA’s Leadership Council will enable me to take our collective small-business message to the people that need to hear it most: Congress.”


Mr. Ricci is the Chief Operating Officer of BNN Services which provides nationwide document signing and mobile notary solutions. Established in 2008 and
based out of Irving Texas, Ricci’s mission is building trusted partnerships with small businesses across the country. Under Ricci’s watch, BNN Services relies upon cutting edge, online tracking system so that all document signing requests are managed with efficiency and handled with care by its nationwide network of signing agents. Ricci believes that communication and fast turnaround times are the keys to BNN Services success.

 

Ricci joined the NSBA Leadership Council as part of his efforts to tackle the many critical issues facing small business which include knowledge about and leadership regarding new technologies and ideas, scaling small businesses nationally, automation and how it will impact small business and finally how healthcare costs are severely impacting small business. The NSBA Leadership Council is focused on providing valuable networking between small-business advocates from across the country while ensuring small business a seat at the table as Congress and regulators take up key small-business proposals.

 

“I am proud to have David Ricci as part of our Leadership Council,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “He came to us highly recommended and I look forward our coordinated efforts for years to come.”

 

Please click here to learn more about BNN Services.

For more on the NSBA Leadership Council, please visit www.nsba.biz

 

A Better Way to Close with BNN Services

Since 2008, BNN Services has been trusted by title agencies, mortgage lenders, servicers and consumers to perform loan and document signings in multiple languages across the country. Unlike other signing services, BNN Services “touches” each and every file 8 or 9 times to ensure the process moves forward free of delays. That’s why we’ve completed over 250,000 signings in all 51 jurisdictions and maintained a closing ratio of 96 percent.

The Age of Automation and CFPB Compliance

When it comes to mortgage lending and consumer satisfaction, the lenders that receive the most satisfactory ratings are those whose services are efficient and accurate. They are the companies that have embraced streamlined processes, reduced redundancies, and eliminated chances of error. Because of technological advances, these companies have partnered with tech driven signing services, title companies, and other vendors to streamline closings. Now, new solutions to automate loan approvals, underwriting, marketing, will help them increase CFPB compliance even further.

  1. Borrower Fraud Protection

Mortgage borrower fraud is a common problem for lenders and is one that reportedly costs them $2.6 billion per year. Approximately 20% of scammers execute this kind of fraud by supplying misinformation about their income and assets, frequently by providing falsified bank statements showing their income.

Using paper bank statements as verification for a potential borrower’s financial situation is often a time-consuming process. It can take days, even weeks, to collect a borrower’s information and then review it. Reviewing bank statements is also an incomplete way to obtain a picture of a potential borrower’s financial situation.

Automation eliminates both aforementioned issues. Electronically, it takes only minutes to compile data from several financial institutions. All assets and income are obtained quickly and without opportunity for the borrower to manipulate their documents.

  1. Avoid Fines from the CFPB

Mortgage lenders have always been responsible for ensuring that their borrowers have the ability to pay their mortgages—but CFPB compliance rules have now made that responsibility more important than ever. The CFPB has doubled enforcement penalties against lenders, and 2020 will likely see similar enforcement actions. Automation tools allow a lender to pull and analyze data from many different sources. With better information at hand, mortgage lenders can make better decisions about borrower viability and increase CFPB compliance.

  1. Staying Ahead of the Competition

Besides CFPB compliance and avoiding fines, automation tools will allow mortgage lenders to process more customers’ loans more efficiently. A paper process puts the responsibility on consumers to collect their bank statements, tax returns, and other relevant information to the lender. What customer would prefer to do that work themselves when they could instead choose a lender that can automatically pull that information? Close to none. Technological solutions are setting the standard in the mortgage industry—make sure your company doesn’t get left behind!

For a seemless, convenient and efficient signing of any kind, call BNN services today!

The Legality of E-Signatures

The good news is that e-signatures are legally binding. In fact, they are just as binding on a contract or other type of document as a handwritten signature; however, they must adhere to certain guidelines. Let’s delve more into what an e-signature is and why it’s legal.

What is an e-signature and what makes it legal?

An e-signature or electronic signature is data – a symbol, sound or something else – in electronic form that is used by a signatory (signer) to represent his or her signature. Different countries have standards for e-signatures which users must adhere to for the signatures to be valid and legally binding.

In the U.S., e-signatures are both legalized and regulated under two separate laws, the United States Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act which passed in 2000 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) which makes e-signatures uniform and valid across state lines. UETA has been passed in all 47 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The three states which have not passed it – New York, Illinois and Washington – have their own laws regulating e-signatures.

Four basic elements of a valid e-signature in the U.S.

There are some minor details which we won’t get into, but in the U.S., an e-signature must basically possess four main attributes in order to be valid and legally binding:

  • The signer must be aware of their actions and their intent to sign.
  • The signer must have given their consent indicating they agreed to allow the transaction to take place electronically.
  • The electronic system or software that captured the signature must also keep a record of the process used to obtain the signature.
  • The documents that were e-signed must be retainable for recordkeeping purposes and reproducible so that all parties can have a copy.

What kinds of documents use e-signatures?

The use of e-signatures is mainstream and there are numerous e-signing applications available, both software- and web-based. You may have heard of some of the more popular ones like DocuSign, ESignLive and PDCflow.

While e-signatures don’t have complete adoption, they are very common on certain types of documents. If you’ve filed your taxes online, for instance, you’ve probably e-signed them.

Here are a few of the other types of documents where e-signing is widely used:

  • Supplier contracts and agreements
  • Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
  • Human resources forms
  • Health care enrollment forms
  • Public petitions
  • Online Contracts
  • Mortgage Loan Closings

 

BNN Service is proud to be a leader in nationwide signings. From residential loans to multi-lingual signings, our vast network signing agents is experienced in signings of all sizes across the country.

For more information call us now!

Ready to Become an Online Notary? Learn about Hybrid and IPEN Signings Too!

Everyone is excited about Remote Online Notarization. Did you know there are other types of digital notarizations? All of these offer tremendous value to the signer. While the opportunity to perform these transactions is still limited — even for the most forward-thinking and prepared notary —. If you’re ready to become an online notary, we suggest learning about these two forms of signings: Hybrid and IPEN.

Here’s what you need to know.

Remote Online Notarization

In a RON transaction, the signer appears before the notary via audio/visual technology instead of being physically present with you in the same room. The documents are electronic. The signer and notary sign digitally, and the notary affixes a digital seal.

Each state has different technology requirements, and some states, like Florida, Nevada and Ohio, also have additional training requirements before you can perform remote notarizations. To find out what your state requires, visit your Secretary of State’s website or look on the National Notary Association’s page Notary Law Updates By State.

So should you put all your chips into RON right now? In our opinion, no.

RON is the next big thing, but it won’t happen overnight. Many consumers aren’t prepared, technologically or emotionally, to have their sensitive documents notarized remotely.

In 2020, the area where signing agents and notaries need to be most prepared is with IPEN and Hybrid Signings. Both incorporate technology into a face-to-face notarial act and provide similar advantages to RON in terms of speed to funding and high-touch customer service.

  • Hybrid (eClosing)

Hybrid signings, also called eClosings, require the physical presence of the notary and signer and entail a combination of wet and digital signatures. Consumers can digitally sign nearly all loan documents digitally while several must be hand-signed in the presence of the notary.

Hybrid closings offer many of the same advantages of as a RON — cost savings, better security, authenticity, and document integrity — but require far less technology. All you need for a hybrid closing is an underwriter who will insure the transaction and a county clerk that will accept eRecordings.

  • IPEN Signings

An IPEN (In-Person Electronic Notarization), sometimes called an eNotarization, means the consumer signs all loan documents in the presence of the notary on a mobile tablet or laptop. An IPEN signing is similar to a hybrid closing, but there are no wet signatures. IPEN signings are less susceptible to delays and mistakes because the closing package cannot be submitted unless all the signatures are completed.

All elements of a traditional, paper notarization are true with IPEN signings. You seal may be placed on the electronic document as a graphic, though state laws vary in this regard.

Join Our Network of Signing Agents

When you join the BNNServices network, you will be integrated with the most advanced technology and be able to accept new jobs, manage client orders, and receive automated updates easier than ever before.

Interested? Learn more about Bilingual Notary Network or Join our Network.